A Problem of Shrinkage

[Xiahou]

Its easy to be popular when you basically don't have to say anything. Granted, that can work,

So true!

In support of which, why wouldn't the Republicans embrace Romney? He seems like the natural choice and the best shot for 2012, but large chunks of the Repub base are cool toward him. Is it the Mormon thing? The Massachusetts thing? What? 'Cause the dude is extremely smart and successful, and a poster child for economic development. He seems like the strongest choice.

So why isn't he the obvious choice?

Count me in as one of the "cool" kids. Romney has a little bit of an issue with flip-flopping and then there's his legacy to Massachusetts, Romneycare, which has resulted in exploding healthcare costs for the state since he implemented it.

"They're trying to manage the huge costs of the subsidized middle-class insurance program that is gradually swallowing the state budget. The program provides low- or no-cost coverage to about 165,000 residents, or three-fifths of the newly insured, and is budgeted at $880 million for 2010, a 7.3% single-year increase that is likely to be optimistic. The state's overall costs on health programs have increased by 42% (!) since 2006."

Now, to me, he's not political dead meat by any stretch, but he's got enough question marks to keep me from running to him with open arms. But really, he probably is the best candidate we have on the table right now.

[Askthepizzaguy]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/200...politico/25863

Please replace Chairman Michael Steele before I injure myself with laughter; he is a Democrat's wet dream, a walking parody. I do not quake with fear with this man leading the Republican party. He makes Howard Dean look sane.

[Lemur]

This is the most encouraging thing I've seen in weeks, Republicans organizing against WND.

In the 1960's, William F. Buckley denounced the John Birch Society leadership for being "so far removed from common sense" and later said "We cannot allow the emblem of irresponsibility to attach to the conservative banner."

The Birthers are the Birchers of our time, and WorldNetDaily is their pamphlet. The Right has mostly ignored these embarrassing people and organizations, but some people and organizations inexplicably choose to support WND through advertising and email list rental or other collaboration. For instance, I have been told that F.I.R.E (The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education) - an otherwise respectable group that does important work - uses the WND email list. They should stop.

No respectable organization should support the kind of fringe idiocy that WND peddles. Those who do are not respectable.

I think it's time to find out what conservative/libertarian organizations support WND through advertising, list rental or other commercial collaboration (email me if you know of any), and boycott any of those organizations that will not renounce any further support for WorldNetDaily.

[ICantSpellDawg]

This is the most encouraging thing I've seen in weeks, Republicans organizing against WND.

In the 1960's, William F. Buckley denounced the John Birch Society leadership for being "so far removed from common sense" and later said "We cannot allow the emblem of irresponsibility to attach to the conservative banner."

The Birthers are the Birchers of our time, and WorldNetDaily is their pamphlet. The Right has mostly ignored these embarrassing people and organizations, but some people and organizations inexplicably choose to support WND through advertising and email list rental or other collaboration. For instance, I have been told that F.I.R.E (The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education) - an otherwise respectable group that does important work - uses the WND email list. They should stop.

No respectable organization should support the kind of fringe idiocy that WND peddles. Those who do are not respectable.

I think it's time to find out what conservative/libertarian organizations support WND through advertising, list rental or other commercial collaboration (email me if you know of any), and boycott any of those organizations that will not renounce any further support for WorldNetDaily.

Lemur, is it still your position that Republicans are in decline? Or has your position changed as the times have?

[Lemur]

I think the Republican Party is in some trouble, certainly, and there are some worrisome long-term trends. On the other hand, it is normal for the party that does not hold the White House to pick up seats in the interim elections, so we will probably see some sort-term gains in 2010. I don't hold out much hope for them in the 2012 presidential elections, but then again that's a political lifetime away. We shall see.

But on balance I fear the Republicans are pandering to trends that will hurt them in the long run. I really, really want them to re-grow their moderate wing (you know, the group currently dismissed as RINOs).

[ICantSpellDawg]

I think the Republican Party is in some trouble, certainly, and there are some worrisome long-term trends. On the other hand, it is normal for the party that does not hold the White House to pick up seats in the interim elections, so we will probably see some sort-term gains in 2010. I don't hold out much hope for them in the 2012 presidential elections, but then again that's a political lifetime away. We shall see.

But on balance I fear the Republicans are pandering to trends that will hurt them in the long run. I really, really want them to re-grow their moderate wing (you know, the group currently dismissed as RINOs).

Arlen Specter was clearly a Democrat in disguise.

[ICantSpellDawg]

I think the Republican Party is in some trouble, certainly, and there are some worrisome long-term trends. On the other hand, it is normal for the party that does not hold the White House to pick up seats in the interim elections, so we will probably see some sort-term gains in 2010. I don't hold out much hope for them in the 2012 presidential elections, but then again that's a political lifetime away. We shall see.

But on balance I fear the Republicans are pandering to trends that will hurt them in the long run. I really, really want them to re-grow their moderate wing (you know, the group currently dismissed as RINOs).

What is going to happen is that people are going to start feeling betrayed and disgusted with Democrats for botching everything even worse than the Republicans botched things.

THEN

In order to win increasingly conservative or just plain angry districts, Democrats are going to give in to xenophobic trends and other populist stuff - all while looking weak and losing anyway. Hispanics ae goping to increase their Republican numbers, put off by the populist drivel and you won't think that the trend looks as dangerous. The GOP will then solidify its sway over religious or conservative hispanics to a greater extent and come in for a win in 2012. The demographics will change.

The GOP is inclusive to all except blacks really. They are the only demographic group that is practically shut out to the Elephant. Hopefully as black cultural leaders start to wake up and stop poisoning the wells, nroads can be made to a greater extent.

Fingers crossed.

[Lemur]

A plausible scenario, TuffStuff, if not the most probable.

The call for a WND boycott has raised hackles and ruffled feathers:

Joseph Farah at WorldNetDaily...

• He says my call for right-of-center organizations to stop supporting WND's conspiracy peddling is "bullying tactics".
• He says he has never heard of me.
• He says that WND didn't say they were "concentration camps"; they just said that the legislation "appears designed to create the type of detention center" that people "fear" could be used as "concentration camps for political dissidents, such as occurred in Nazi Germany." He calls this "nuanced".
• He claims I have called "for an all-out jihad against WND."
• He says, "Am I scared? No, folks. I'm not." and says he's just standing up for "truth".

In The Washington Times, Farah "questioned Mr. Henke's motives and standing", arguing that The Next Right is "pretty much a Republican establishment group who has worked for the RNC and the Republican Party and I can certainly understand why a group like that would have problems with World Net Daily." He added "these are not journalists, they are political activists who have their own agendas."

So, he's taking the "you can't handle the truth!" approach so beloved by true believers and conspiracy theorists. He also seems to think I'm part of the "Republican establishment" and aligned with the RNC. This is an interesting argument, considering the fact that I'm trying to get the RNC to stop working with Joseph Farah.

The RNC also responds, sorta.